The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus (10). Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The generation of hydrogen is regulated automatically by the selective exposure of a catalyst (48) to the fuel mixture depending on the
The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus (10). Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The generation of hydrogen is regulated automatically by the selective exposure of a catalyst (48) to the fuel mixture depending on the pressure inside the reaction chamber (28) of the gas-generating apparatus. Catalyst sealing mechanisms (40, 42) are provided at least partially within the reaction chamber to regulate the hydrogen pressure and to minimize the fluctuations in pressure of the hydrogen received by the fuel cell.
대표청구항▼
1. A gas-generating apparatus comprising: a housing having an outlet port and a pressure relief valve;a reaction chamber located at least partially within the housing of the gas-generating apparatus, the reaction chamber comprising at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane providing a
1. A gas-generating apparatus comprising: a housing having an outlet port and a pressure relief valve;a reaction chamber located at least partially within the housing of the gas-generating apparatus, the reaction chamber comprising at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane providing a gas-conduit between the reaction chamber and the outlet port and pressure relief valve, the reaction chamber characterized as having an internal pressure and which, during use, contains a fuel mixture that produces a gas in the presence of a catalyst;the reaction chamber containing a catalyst sealing member, the catalyst sealing member containing the catalyst and comprising a reference pressure chamber configured to communicate with a reference gas at a pre-determined reference pressure, the reference pressure chamber being capable of reversibly expanding and contracting in response to a difference between the reference pressure and the internal pressure of the reaction chamber,wherein the catalyst sealing member is open when the reference pressure is equal to or less than the internal pressure of the reaction chamber such that at least part of the reference pressure chamber is directly exposed to the internal pressure of the reaction chamber and, during use, the catalyst is exposed to the fuel mixture; andwherein the catalyst sealing member is closed, which during use isolates the catalyst from the fuel mixture, when the reference pressure is greater than the internal pressure of the reaction chamber. 2. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber has a substantially cylindrical shape. 3. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber comprises an elastomeric material. 4. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reference pressure chamber is fluidically connected to the outside of the housing, such that the reference pressure is atmospheric pressure. 5. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of catalyst sealing members in the reaction chamber, each individual catalyst sealing member containing a catalyst and comprising a reference pressure chamber containing a reference gas at a different pre-determined reference pressure from any another reference pressure chamber, such that each reference pressure chamber is differently responsive to the internal pressure of the reactor. 6. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catalyst sealing member comprises a cup disposable against a sealing member, wherein the cup is displaced away from the sealing member when the catalyst sealing member is open and the cup is disposed against the sealing member configuration when the catalyst sealing member is closed. 7. The gas generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane is permeable to hydrogen or oxygen. 8. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas-conduit comprises a gas-permeable liquid-impermeable laminated composite disposed within the reaction chamber, the composite comprising a lattice structure being disposed between two gas-permeable, liquid impermeable membranes, such that during use the the composite is subjected to a compression pressure within the reaction chamber and the produced gas flows through one or both of the membranes into and through the lattice structure, and to the outlet port via the lattice structure. 9. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catalyst sealing member comprises a catalyst isolating chamber that substantially isolates the catalyst from the fuel mixture when the catalyst sealing member is closed, during use. 10. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catalyst sealing member comprises at least one fuel channel through the catalyst sealing member which provides a direct conduit from the reaction chamber to the reference pressure chamber even when the catalyst sealing member is closed. 11. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber comprises a corrugated bellows and the catalyst sealing member further comprises a pair of cups, wherein when the catalyst sealing member is open, the corrugated bellows is expanded and the cups are open, and when the catalyst sealing member is closed, the corrugated bellows is contracted and the cups are closed. 12. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises cobalt, boron, and oxygen. 13. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the catalyst is Co(BO2)OH. 14. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reference pressure chamber comprises an elastomeric wall. 15. A gas-generating apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber;a fuel mixture comprising at least a hydride and water within the reaction chamber, wherein the fuel mixture reacts to produce a gas and a byproduct in the presence of a catalyst; anda hydrometer to measure the density of the fuel mixture combined with the byproduct to determine remaining unreacted fuel in the reaction chamber. 16. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber comprises a balloon. 17. The gas-generating device of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber is entirely contained within the catalyst sealing member when in the second configuration. 18. The gas-generating device of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure is a pressure other than atmospheric pressure. 19. The gas-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber is fluidically connected to a reference pressure outside of the housing by a hollow tether. 20. The gas-generating device of claim 1, wherein the reference pressure chamber completely contains the reference gas at the pre-determined reference pressure. 21. The gas-generating device of claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the reaction chamber comprises the at least one gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane providing the gas-conduit between the reaction chamber and the outlet port. 22. A gas-generating apparatus comprising: a housing;a reaction chamber having gas-impenetrable walls, the reaction chamber located at least partially within the housing of the gas-generating apparatus, the reaction chamber characterized as having an internal pressure and which, during use, contains a fuel mixture that produces a gas in the presence of a catalyst;wherein the reaction chamber further contains a gas-conducting laminate, the laminate comprising a lattice structure in direct fluid communication with an outlet port and pressure relief valve that exit through the housing, the lattice structure being sandwiched between two gas-permeable liquid-impermeable membranes, such that during use the produced gas flows through one or both of the membranes, into and through the lattice structure, and to the outlet port via the lattice structure;the reaction chamber further containing a catalyst sealing member, the catalyst sealing member containing the catalyst and comprising a reference pressure chamber containing a reference gas at a pre-determined reference pressure, the reference pressure chamber being capable of reversibly expanding and contracting in response to a difference between the reference pressure and the internal pressure of the reaction chamber,wherein the catalyst sealing member is open when the reference pressure is equal to or less than the internal pressure of the reaction chamber such that the reference pressure chamber reference pressure chamber is directly exposed to the internal pressure of the reaction chamber and, during use, the catalyst is exposed to the fuel mixture; andwherein the catalyst sealing member is closed, which during use isolates the catalyst from the fuel mixture, when the reference pressure is greater than the internal pressure of the reaction chamber.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Hoffman Robert T. (Kailua HI) Buecher Roger W. (Kailua HI), Controllable gas generator.
Iniotakis Nicolas (Jlich DEX) von der Decken Claus-Benedict (Aachen DEX) Fedders Heinrich (Jlich DEX) Frhling Werner (Dren DEX) Sernetz Friedrich (Alzenau-Klberau DEX), Hydrogen permeation membrane.
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